If you create something, you don't want someone else to go and profit from it; you have your right to make a living and everything. So I respect copyright. What I don't respect is copyright extremism. And I what I don't respect is a business model that encourages piracy.

The quote "If you create something, you don't want someone else to go and profit from it; you have your right to make a living and everything. So I respect copyright. What I don't respect is copyright extremism. And what I don't respect is a business model that encourages piracy." by Kim Dotcom explores the balance between intellectual property rights and digital freedom. Dotcom, the founder of file-sharing platform Megaupload, acknowledges the importance of copyright in protecting creators’ rights to earn a living from their original creations. At its core, the quote expresses support for fair compensation and ownership in the digital age.

However, Dotcom draws a line between reasonable copyright enforcement and what he calls "copyright extremism." This refers to aggressive legal actions or overly restrictive laws that go beyond protecting creators and instead limit access, innovation, or fair use. He critiques systems that abuse copyright laws to control the flow of information or to profit excessively from content distribution, often at the expense of both consumers and smaller creators.

Additionally, Dotcom condemns business models that encourage piracy, meaning companies that make content inaccessible or unaffordable, thereby pushing users toward illegal alternatives. In this context, he’s not defending piracy but questioning the industry practices that make piracy more appealing than legal access. He’s advocating for a more balanced, user-friendly digital ecosystem where content creators are paid fairly, and consumers can access content easily and ethically.

The quote reflects Dotcom’s complex position as both a critic of traditional media enforcement and a promoter of digital innovation. While he became a controversial figure due to legal battles over copyright infringement, this statement shows his belief in ethical content sharing, creator rights, and modernizing media access to better suit the realities of the internet era.